CarModelProblems.com

1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper — runs 3.9× the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
193Complaints
8Recalls
11Crashes
8Fires
13Injured
0Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper (8.3% of complaints) — was examined in a now-closed NHTSA investigation that did not result in a recall.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper complaints here are 3.9× the median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.

1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper16 · 8.3%Investigation closedPE94063
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components16 · 8.3%Investigation closedPE94063
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine15 · 7.8%Investigation closedEA00011 → recall 00V189000 · PE94048
Structure15 · 7.8%RecalledRecall 00V189000 · Recall 97V058000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc14 · 7.3%Investigation closedPE94063
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline13 · 6.7%Investigation closedEA00011 → recall 00V189000 · PE94048

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER16 · 8.3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS16 · 8.3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE15 · 7.8%
STRUCTURE15 · 7.8%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC14 · 7.3%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE13 · 6.7%
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR11 · 5.7%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR9 · 4.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8 · 4.1%
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE8 · 4.1%

Percentages are the share of the 193 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 8 campaigns

Fuel System, Gasoline

NHTSA campaign 06E043000 · 2006 · reported 05/19/2006

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:pressure Relief Devices

NHTSA campaign 07E021000 · 2007 · reported 03/12/2007

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Structure

NHTSA campaign 00V189000 · 2000 · reported 07/11/2000

IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Seat Belts

NHTSA campaign 92V003000 · 1992 · reported 01/10/1992

THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Structure

NHTSA campaign 97V058000 · 1997 · reported 04/08/1997

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls

NHTSA campaign 92V043000 · 1992 · reported 04/01/1992

THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WILL FAIL FROM OVERHEATINGAND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Seats:front Assembly:recliner

NHTSA campaign 92V124000 · 1992 · reported 09/01/1992

THE HIGH CURRENT CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WELDS THECIRCUIT BREAKER ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE CLOSED POSITION, LEAVING THE CIRCUITUNPROTECTED AND GENERATING SUFFICIENT HEAT TO BURN THE WIRE INSULATION ANDIGNITE THE SEAT CUSHION MATERIAL. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Seat Belts:front:anchorage

NHTSA campaign 95V173000 · 1995 · reported 09/15/1995

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN A COLLISON, STRESS CAN CAUSE THE ATTACHMENT METAL TO TEAR AND ALLOW THE ANCHORAGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT PROTECT AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“THE REAR CALIPERS FAILED FOR THE ORIGIONAL OWNER, THEY WERE REPLACED AT ORIGIONAL DEALER, THEY AGAIN FAILED SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE…”NHTSA complaint 702509 — filed 01/23/1999 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
“BRAKE CALIPERS LOCK UP DUE TO CORROSION CAUSING DAMAGE AND PREMATURE/UNEVEN WEAR OF THE PADS AND ROTORS.”NHTSA complaint 542208 — filed 10/22/1998 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
“BRAKE CALIPERS/PADS/SHOES, FELL OFF IN GARAGE. DOES NOT KNOW WHICH ONE RUSTED OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING USED, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY ARE INOPERATIVE…”NHTSA complaint 806848 — filed 12/30/1996 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

63199551171997272719992420200121720034120052120101

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass?

Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper issues are the most-reported category, cited in 16 of 193 NHTSA complaints (8.3%), followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (16), engine and engine cooling:engine (15), structure (15). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass have?

193 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 11 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, and 13 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.

Does the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass have any recalls?

Yes — 8 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 06E043000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass's reported problems?

1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.